7 October 2007
by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Ord Military Chapel
Seaside, CA
BIG IDEA: Christian wives should share the LOVE of Christ with their husbands through their Ministry of Submissiveness.
REFERENCES: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NLT (Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance); Esther 1:17-18 NKJV (For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’ This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath). Proverbs 31:10-31 (Proverbs 31 Woman); Matthews 5:16 KJV – (Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven); James 1:19-20 KJV – (Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God); Genesis 3:16 KJV (Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee); Ephesians 5:21-23 KJV ( Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body); Matthews 8:14-17 (Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law); 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (Married Christians Should Not Seek To Part From Their Unbelieving spouse); 1 Peter 3:1-7 (The Duties of Wives & Husband); Ephesians 5:24-28 KJV - (Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Peter 3:1-7 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Peter 3: 1-7 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Peter 3:1-2 GW (Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men {for Christ} by the way they live without saying anything. Their husbands would see how pure and reverent their lives are;
IV. PURPOSE: To encourage Christian wives - through LOVE and the MINISTRY of SUBMISSION - to willingly place themselves under their husbands’ leadership in order to win them for Jesus Christ.
V. SERMONIC THEME:
“HOW to Win your Husband, for Christ, without Saying Anything”
VI: INTRODUCTION:
As an only child - I have been taught, by my late mother, to have a tremendous respect for all women.
As mothers, wives, leaders, homemakers, and professional women alike, you have been called, by God, to conduct an awesome ministry: The Ministry of Love and Submission, and I applaud you!
Therefore, the question is “How Do You Win Your Husband, for Christ, without Saying Anything?”
In the New Living Translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the Apostle Paul says:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance
Matthews 5:16 (KJV) says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”.
Someone else said, “Actions Speak Louder than Words”.
Finally, an Old African Proverb says, “When deeds speak, WORDS ARE NOTHING”.
****************TAKE 5 BEATS *********************
MOVE 1: Recently, through my reading and surfing the NET, I came across a Christian Counselor Advice Page (HoyWeb.com) …
a. … along with a Christian Wife Scenario and Question … that I believe represents many homes - led by unsaved husbands that are married to Christian wives:
b. The Christian wife writes:
c. Dear Counselor,
d. … I am really struggling with my husband and his lack of faith. We’ve been married for many years and have a really good relationship. However, over the last 10 years I’ve been really growing in my faith.
e. … We have 2 grown children that I mostly took to church and now because of their father’s example, they’re also not walking with the Lord.
My love for the Lord has grown, I want to praise Him, worship Him and serve Him. My husband on the other hand seems no further along in his Christian walk than he was 10 years ago.
f. … He tells me he thinks and hopes there is a God, but doesn’t desire a real relationship with Jesus and thinks he’s a "good person" (which he is) and hopes he’ll get to heaven because of that.
g. … I’ve tried to sit down and explain salvation to him, but he just doesn’t get it.
h. … I’ve been praying for him for many years and others in my church also are praying for him.
i. … When he does go to church with me, like he did today, I just get so upset by his whole attitude,
j. … I’m ready to tell him to just stay home if he doesn’t really want to go. It’s putting a wedge between us in what is otherwise a very good marriage. I’m always hoping and praying that one of these Sundays when he’s at church, something will happen in his spirit.
k. … So, I try "dragging" him along once a month or so when I can get him there.
l. … It’s so hard, I’m sitting here typing this and crying. Am I crying for me, him, or God? I know I just have to love him and be an example to him, but it’s so hard. Thanks for listening, any advice you have would be appreciated. Amy
********************TAKE 5 BEATS *********************
MOVE 2: Likewise, in our text today, we find the Apostle Peter – a married leader - … giving advice … to Christian Wives who were married to unbelieving husbands.
a. Peter says that Christian Wives can win their husband to Christ without saying anything.
b. Therefore, I contend this morning that if a Christian Wife Should willingly accept her call, in the marriage that she is in, …
b. … God will use her … to MOLD, SHAPE, FORM, and HELP her husband to become and fulfill his GODLY PURPOSE.
c. For who can ever forget … the story of Esther; and how she rose to the position of Queen … because Vashti wasn’t willing to work the ministry of love and submission.
d. However, a husband can’t possibly fulfill HIS PURPOSE without his wife; whose mission is to help her husband be all that he can be for God.
e. For … In order for leadership to materialize there must be someone to lead.
f. For instance, a commander (at any level); commander of a company, battalion, brigade/group, division or an army can not lead if their aren’t any followers.
g. Those of you that have been coming to Wednesday Evening Bible Study are aware that in the Book of Ephesians (5:21-23), the Apostle Paul depicts the husband as representing Christ … as the Head of the church;
h. … and the wife is portrayed as the church. She is the Bride of Christ. As the Husband represents Christ himself.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 3: All of which means that the wife is assigned by God a subordinate position in the home or in the domestic relationship environment.
a. A position in which the world or our secular society despises.
b. But, a position that has been brought into existence because of our own sins in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:16) …
c. For don’t your remember: God said to the woman in the garden: “ …
d. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring
forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. “
******************************TAKE 5 BEATS***************************
MOVE 4: Now, my sisters, it’s a fact that many men make the mistake of ruling or leading in their own sinful strength … which is without the LOVE OF CHRIST.
a. I do apologize for those men. But, the fact of the matter is … WE CAN’T CHANGE
THEM, BUT GOD CAN.
b. Therefore, it becomes imperative that YOU, … THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE CHRISTIAN WIVES, allow God to use YOU … AS DAUGHTERS OF SARAH …
c. IN THE MINISTRY OF LOVE AND SUBMISSION … TO WIN YOUR
HUSBANDS TO CHRIST … through your actions … and your loving attitudes …
d. NOW, … I’M NOT SAYING … THE MINISTRY OF LOVE AND SUBMISSION … IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER NIGHT … BUT I AM SAYING THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
e. CHIRST IS WITH EACH OF YOU. AND AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR MINISTERIAL DUTIES … PLEASE KNOW THAT HE SEES AND HE HEARS ALL….
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
CELEBRATION:
In our scripture this morning, we find ourselves admittedly.
…. examining scripture, written by the Apostle – Peter, which has been abused,
misunderstood and taken out of context by not only the world and the unchurched …
but also unfortunately some of you that are in here this morning.
As a result, many have concluded that women are second class citizens, and should keep quiet and march when they’re given orders.
But, I submit to you MARRIED CHRISTIAN WOMEN this morning … that you can (with the right attitude and the ministry of submission) love the meat off of your husband bones …
THROUGH YOUR LOVE (for him) and YOUR MINISTRY OF SUBMISSION …
But, it requires you having the mind of Christ. For who can ever forget what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:5 -
… Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus …
